Convertible mobile golf bag



1959 A. L. VINCELETTE 2,863,559

, CONVERTIBLE MOBILE GOLF BAG Filed Jan. 20, 1955 2 Sheefs-Shegt 1 ATTORNEYS n 13,- 1959 A. WNCELETTE 2,86

' CONVERTIBLE MOBILE GOLF BAG Filed Jan. 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY s 2,868,559 CONVERTIBLE MOBILE GOLF .BAG

Anthony Leroy Vincel ette, United States Navy Application January 20, 1955, Serial No. 483,058

Claims. (Cl. zen-47.33)

This invention relates to improvements in golf bags and is directed more particularly to a golf bag having detachable mobilizing components and retractable rest means. 1

As is well known, golf bags containing a full complement of clubs, balls, accessories and other irnpedimenta useful or desirable for the complete enjoyment of the game attain a weight far in excess of that which many persons, particularly those of mature years and/ or lesser physical ability, are inclined to carry bodily over the distances of several miles characteristics of present-day courses of eighteen or more holes. It was, of course, the custom for many years for the organization maintaining the course to provide caddies to carry the bag, etc.; however, most public courses no longer make this service available and many private groups are finding it increasingly more difficult to maintain an adequate corps of persons willing to perform this rather burdensome task. Even where caddy-service is available, its cost is no longer modest and many golfers are unable or reluctant to add in this way to the already heavy expense of playing the game, especially since a substantial gratuity in addition to the fixed charge is both the usual and expected practice. The need for a mobilized golf bag is consequently apparent. On the other hand, some persons, who may be broadly designated purists of the game, prefer, for various reasons, to carry the bag themselves and would object to permanently mobilized bags. In addition, there are others who have need of a mobile bag on some occasions and for a conventionalbag on other occasions and who would rather have a bag capable of either function.

The use of wheeled carts constructed to receive bags of conventional designhas been proposed. Unfortunate ly, such carts have, for the most part, proved to be rather expensive to market so that this solution has been almost as disadvantageous as the problem itself. Also, it is undoubtedly true that carts of this type add to the weight of the bag, detract from its maneuverability in close quarters, and-constitute a stroage problem either alone or with the bag. i

It is, therefore, the object of this invention to provide a golf bagof inexpensive construction which is especially designed and adapted for use in association with mobilizing components, i. e., wheels, axle and the like, which can be easily and quickly removed, thereby converting the bag to substantially conventional design.

A further object is to provide a mobile golf bag having separable lightweight mobilizing parts which, when removed, may be stored in the bag itself without increasing its displacement for purposes of storage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mobile golf bag having protractable and retractable means to maintain the bag in generally upright position, such means, in retracted position, being received within the base of the bag and concealedfrom view.

These and other objects and advantages will be revealed in the following detailed description when read in nited r States Patent 2,868,559 Patented Jan. 13, 1959 conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the golf bag of the present invention with the mobilizing components and rest means in operative position and showing two sides of the outer covering;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bag with the mobilizing components removed and the rest means in retracted position and showing the other two sides of the outer covering;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the bag;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical crossrsectional view of the lower portion of the bag, showing in solid lines the rest means in protracted position, in dotted lines the rest means in retracted position, and indicating in dot-dash lines the rest position of the bag;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view looking down substantially along line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along line 77 of Fig. 5.

In accordance with the novel concept of this .invention, the golf bag consists of a metallic shell, preferably compartmented, encased by an outer covering, having the usual storage pockets and the like, which is secured to the casing by a top molding strip and a base member. Extending from one side of the shell is a demountable handle means to which access is obtained through one of the storage pockets of the casing. The base is formed tion by an axle carrying removable wheels at its ends,

and a spring detent is provided to maintain the axle and wheels in proper, lateral position with respect to the casing. Also in the baseis a longitudinally extending channel slidably receiving the leg of a T-shaped rest member which is movable to and from a projected operative position from and to a retracted out of-the-way position and retained in either position by spring detent means. In retracted position, the cross-bar of the rest member fits within a recess provided in the base.

Turning now to a detailed description of the invention, in the drawings the numeral 11 designates: a tubular shelllike casing, preferably of square or rectangular crosssection, constructed of light Weight sheet metal, plastic or the like. Within the casing are one or more partitions 13 extending in a plane or planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of casing 11 and dividing the same into a plurality of compartments. Although the use of partitions is not an essential feature of the invention, it is desirable, as golf bags are normally compartmented in one fashion or another. Completelyenclosing the sidewalls of casing 11 is a flexible outer covering 15 of fabric, woven plastic, sheet plastic or other suitable material which may be designed or ornamented soas to be pleasing to the eye. As is usual in the art, the covering may, and preferably does, include a holder 17 for an identification card, pencils, golf tees, etc., and a variety of zipper pockets 19 for containing shoes, balls, articles of clothing and other miscellaneous equipment. ,A carrying strap 2th secured to the casing is also advantageously provided. Cover 15 is retained on casing 11. at its upper end by a leather or plastic molding strip 21 of generally 'Ushaped crosssection which overlaps the marginal portions of the casing and cover, being held in place by rivets or other well-known means, and at its lower end by a base member, generally designated 23, having vertically extending flanges 25 (Fig. 7) which overlaps the lower edges of the casing and covering and is also retained in place by rivets or the like.

There is affixed to one side of casing 11 in spaced vertical relationship a pair of pillowblock-shapedmounts 3 27,27, one being shown in Fig. 3 and the other in Fig. 5, having apertures 29, 29' extending therethrough. The apertures are in vertical alignment and are penetrated by a cylindrical. tubular member 31 of length substantially equal to the distance from the upper. end of the top mount to. the lower end of thebottom mount, themember. being secured in the lower block by abolt 33 and. nut 35pmjecting through registering apertures therein. Near the upper end of member. 31 is a pair of diametrically opposed slots 37 in which, is pressfitted or otherwise per- 1 manently secured a key 3 9 A, short'angularly bent portion 41 of a handle 43 is inserted into the upper end of member 31, the portion 4-1 being slotted at its termination for engagement with key 39 to prevent relativerotation between the handle-and member 31. Handle 43 may be locked in operative-position in the member 31 by a pin 45 passed through apertures provided for that purpose. When the covering is in place, the mounts, tubular member, etc. are accessible through a special zipper pocket 19' from which the rear wall has. been eliminated and, when closed, pocket 19', of course, eifectively conceals these parts from view.

Referring now specifically to Figs. 5-7, the base member 23 includes an outer frame member 24 generally of the configuration of a closed H, having the two sides 47, 47, and bridging member 49, corresponding to the legs and crossbar of the H, enlarged or thickened for a purpose to appear shortly, all four sides being extended upwardly in reduced thickness as at 25 to overlap with the casing and covering, as already explained. The thickened side 47 of frame 24, which is associated with the wall of casing 11 bearing the handlev mounts 27, 27, is formed with a channel 51 extending the full length thereof and the thickened bridging member 49 is also formed with a channel 53 intersecting at one end with channel 51 in the I shape of a T and emerging at the other end through side 47-. The other thickened side 47 is cut away or notched, as at 54, along its lower edge. Nesting within the outer frame is a floor or false bottom member 52, closing ed the lower end of casing 11, and having around its periphery narrow dependent flanges 55 which are secured to casing 11 and extensions or flangesZS. A cross-piece 57 is supported from the under face of floor member 52 parallel to bridging member 49 and in overlying relationship of channel 53. Fashioned in cross-piece 5'7 is an elongated groove 59 opening into channel 53 and terminating somewhat short of the ends of the cross-piece. Two spring biased detents 61, 62 are carried by the ungrooved ends of the cross-piece, the first positioned above and normally projecting downwardly into channel 51 at or near its midpoint and the second above and normally projecting into channel 53 near its outer end.

Adapted to be received within channel 5'1 and project on either side thereof is an axle 63 having at approximately its midpoint recesses 65 spaced around its periphery at 90 intervals. One of these recesses, when the axle is inserted in channel 51, is engaged by detent 61, thus automatically centering the axle with respect to the casing and preventing accidental dislodgment of the axle. A wheel 67 is removably mounted on each end of the axle as by means of a nut 68 threaded on the axle.

In order to support the cart in generally upright position without tipping, I employ a steady rest 69 having a leg 71 and cross-bar joined together to form a T, leg '71 being disposed for sliding movement within channel 53. The rest is releasably retainedin its extreme protracted and retracted positions by the engagement of detent 62 with two recesses 73, 73' provided in leg '71, one near each of its ends. Cross-bar 75 conforms in crosssectional configuration to that of notch 54 and is of a length not exceeding that of side 47. Thus, when the rest is in retracted position, cross-bar 75 fits neatly Within notch 54, the side 47' then giving the appearance of a substantially unbroken surface. Also, when retracted, the

cross-bar has no sharp edges or parts projecting beyond. 1

the confines of side 47' which might constitute a hazard. To prevent inadvertent complete withdrawal of the rest from the base, a key 77 may be inserted in a slot near the end of leg 71, which key extends upwardly into groove 59. As the rest is withdrawn from the base, key 77 slides in groove 59 until it contacts the end of the groove and checks further movement in this direction.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that all of the parts of the bag which are foreign to conventional bags are either subject to concealment or to removal and storage within the bag or pockets included therewith. Consequently, the b ag may be employed at will, as either a conventional bag or as a mobile bag. Further, due to its shell-like construction, I am. able to obtain a more durable bag at a substantially lower cost compared to the usual leather or fabric bags.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, minor changes may be made without departing from the basic concept of the. invention. For example, the frame member 24. of base 213 may be closed at its lower end to avoid the accumulation of dirt, leaves, etc. therein. Also, the steady rest may be provided with a suitable hand grip, a cavity, for example, to facilitate its release from detent 61 and withdrawal from base 23. Therefore, the scope of the invention is not to be restricted to the exact embodiment illustrated but rather only by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, wlrat is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters. Patent is:

1. A convertible mobile golf bag. comprising a tubular casing, a frame member permanently attached to said casing and constituting a fixed base therefor, wheel means remov ably mounted on said framemember, a rest member having a leg portion and a ground-contacting portion, said frame member having a channel extending from one side into the interior thereof, into which channel said leg portion fits for sliding movement, and a portion cut away from the exterior of said one side to define a cavity into which said ground-contacting portion is adapted to fit in an out-of-the way position, said rest member being slidable out of said frame member to a position at which said ground-contacting portion projects substantially beyond the confines of said base mem: her, at which position said rest member is adapted with said wheel means to support said bag in generally upright position.

2. The bag as in claim 1 wherein the cross-section of said ground-contacting portion corresponds generally to the cross-sectional configuration of said cavity whereby when in said out-of-the-way position said ground-contacting portion presents to view an external surface constituting a part of the external surface of said frame member.

3. The bag as in claim 1 including spring detent means carried by said frame member and cooperating with depressions formed in said leg portion to releasably retain said rest member in both the out-of-the-way and projecting positions. 1

4. The bag as in claim 1 including cooperating stop means on said frame member and rest member to prevent complete withdrawal of said rest member from said frame member.

5. In a wheeled carrier for golf clubs, said carrier having a base member and wheel means mounted on said base member, the improvement which comprises a rest member having a leg portion and a ground-contacting portion at one end of said leg portion,a channel of said base member extending from an external surface into the interior thereof into which channel said leg portion fits for sliding movement, and a recess formed in said external surface and connecting with said channel,

said recess being adapted to receive said ground contacting portion in an out of the way position, said rest member being slidable out of said frame member to a position at which said ground-contacting portion projects a position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Downing Feb. 26, 1884 6 Schliwa et a1. Aug. 13, 1946 Baker Jan. 11, 1949 Burtt May 16, 1950 Haney June 27, 1950 Lewis Aug. 8, 1950 May Jan. 16, 1951 Jamison Mar. 25, 1952 Wilson Feb. 24, 1953 Lace et a1. Aug. 3, 1954 

